The causes of chronic vertebrogenic low back pain can range from degenerative disc disease and muscle strain to facet joint dysfunction.
Chronic vertebrogenic low back pain can be caused by a variety of factors. These conditions can range from facet joint dysfunction to degenerative disc disease and muscle strain.
These conditions often require medical treatment to manage their symptoms. Luckily, there is a treatment option available for these conditions that is FDA-cleared.
Facet joint dysfunction
While there is no cure for facet joint arthritis, treatment is available to reduce the pain and improve the quality of life. Treatment options may include physical therapy, injections, or ablations to reduce pain and stiffness.
In rare cases, surgery may be recommended. Patients should learn how to use correct posture and maintain proper body weight to relieve pain and function better.
Facet joint degeneration is a common cause of back and neck pain. It results from degenerative changes of the joints that connect the bones of the spine. Inflammation of these joints causes pain and inflammation of the surrounding nerve endings.
If left untreated, this condition can result in debilitating back pain. Medications may be prescribed to manage symptoms, but if symptoms persist, surgery is sometimes necessary to fuse the joint.
In a prospective longitudinal case series, Beattie et al19 studied 296 patients who had degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc. The patients were treated using a VAX-D system and were followed for 8 weeks.
The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was administered before intervention, 30 days after discharge, and 180 days later.
In total, 250 subjects (84.4%) completed the treatment protocol. The authors used intention-to-treat analysis to account for loss of follow-up.
A CT scan or MRI may reveal evidence of a herniated disc. However, the presence of herniated disc material is not always associated with pain. However, some tests, including myelography, can show the presence of herniated disc material in 20% to 76% of people without symptoms.
Although low back pain can be characterized by a variety of causes, a primary diagnosis of facet joint dysfunction is based on specific factors, including the location of the pain, the type of joint dysfunction, and the patient’s level of acuity.
The primary cause of low back pain is related to movement. It is often accompanied by a physical disability that affects the entire body, including the spine.
Degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease can be caused by a variety of different factors, including a single vertebrogenous lesion or several discs.
Some patients experience pure vertebrogenic pain, whereas others experience annular pain via the sinuvertebral nerve, or nerve compression in the spinal canal or neuroforamen. In addition, patients may also experience nociception through medial branch nerves.
If vertebrogenic low back pain persists, a diagnostic MRI may be the best option. This imaging test can identify the exact source of the pain. The presence of Modic changes in the MRI can indicate the presence of disc disease or vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction.
MRI and CT scans can also show herniated disc material. A physician’s diagnosis is based on evidence from the patient’s pain reports and the imaging findings.
Generally, a spine expert will recommend a treatment based on these findings. The pain associated with this type of degenerative disc disease can be severe and limiting. Surgical treatments and physical therapy may offer temporary relief, but they may not provide lasting relief.
In the past, experts have compared low back pain to an epidemic. Studies have shown that people with the disease are more likely to experience recurrent episodes of the disease than people without it.
Studies conducted in this field have found that the number of people with chronic low back pain has increased significantly since the early 1990s.
Despite the fact that most acute back pain sufferers will improve without treatment, many continue to have pain despite medical management. In some cases, the symptoms will disappear on their own, but the vast majority of patients will be in pain for up to 12 months.
Muscle strain
Muscle strain and vertebrogenic low back symptoms are common and require proper diagnosis and treatment.
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has published clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The guidelines are based on the recommendations of a group of physicians.
Many people experience chronic low back pain because of lumbar instability. Young patients, athletes, and people with obesity are at a greater risk for this condition. It occurs because of biomechanical changes associated with the degeneration of the intervertebral discs.
These changes lead to changes in the vector forces of the spinal unit, which in turn can lead to dynamic overload of the elements of the posterior arches.
Most cases of back pain occur in the lumbar spine, where five vertebrae are connected by intervertebral discs and facet joints. The L5 vertebra attaches to the sacrum and pelvis, creating a joint known as the sacroiliac joint.
A recent study looked at the effectiveness of long-term antibiotic treatment for muscle strain and vertebrogenic low back pain.
It found that the use of antibiotics significantly improved the pain levels after 100 days. However, this intervention was not an independent predictor of low back pain.
Nevertheless, these treatments are recommended for patients who fail to respond to other treatment protocols.
The new treatment called Intracept is a minimally-invasive approach for treating chronic low back pain. This procedure targets nerves in vertebrae and bones of the spine.
It is the first nonsurgical treatment for this condition, and the company behind the device, Relievant, says it could change the course of low back pain treatment.
BVN dysfunction
The diagnosis of BVN dysfunction for vertebrogenic low-back pain is not as straightforward as it sounds. In the past, BVN dysfunction was associated with vertebral endplate damage and discogenic pain.
Fortunately, new technologies have addressed this condition. One such innovation is the Intracept(r) Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System. This procedure targets BVN pain by ablating the nerve that is responsible for the pain.
Although there is no clear etiology for vertebrogenic pain, the presence of MCs in the MRI suggests a possible vertebrogenic source. Other causes of vertebrogenic pain include endplate damage and facets of the intervertebral disc, ligaments, and discogenic etiology.
Several studies have focused on vertebral endplates and their role in generating a neuropathic pain. Several studies have demonstrated long-term success rates with treatment of vertebrogenic pain.
In a recent study, researchers conducted a randomized trial comparing intraosseous RF ablation of the BVN to standard care in patients with chronic low back pain. A total of 140 patients with MC1 or MC2 changes between L3 and S1 vertebrae were enrolled in the study.
After BVN ablation, the patients’ ODI scores improved significantly. The majority of patients returned to an active lifestyle after treatment, with 79% indicating they would undergo the procedure again.
BVN dysfunction is the result of damaged endplates in the spinal column that send pain signals to the central nervous system. These signals are perceived as CLBP. Fortunately, there are treatments available for BVN dysfunction and a definitive diagnosis can be made with minimal or no surgical intervention.
BVN ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that takes a few hours to complete. Patients undergo a short incision in the lower back to access the vertebrae in question.
A special needle is inserted into the vertebrae. Then, the needle is removed. The tip of the catheter is heated, which stops pain signals in the spinal column.
Intracept procedure
Intracept is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that targets a nerve that runs through the vertebrae. It works by applying heat through a small probe to the problematic nerve.
This effectively deadens it so that it no longer transmits pain signals. Unlike other procedures, Intracept does not require anesthesia, and patients can resume normal activities immediately after the procedure.
Intracept is FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic low back pain caused by vertebrogenic disorders. It is available for patients who have failed to receive adequate treatment using more conservative methods.
This procedure has helped many patients with low back pain. If you are interested in learning more about the procedure, please contact one of our back pain specialists.
Vertebrogenic pain is caused by wear and tear of the vertebral endplates. This wear and tear causes the growth of pain receptors on the bones’ surfaces. The more pain receptors, the more severe the pain.
Vertebrogenic pain is a symptom of degeneration of the vertebral endplates, which can lead to inflammation. This inflamed endplate can trigger the pain in the spine’s nerves.
After the Intracept procedure, patients can return home the same day. They will need someone to drive them home. The surgery usually takes about an hour and does not weaken the spine.
After the procedure, most patients are able to resume normal activities. Typically, they will experience soreness at the site for 24 to 48 hours. However, this is temporary and most people resume normal activities within a few days.
The Intracept procedure has been approved by the FDA for patients with vertebrogenic low back pain. The procedure involves using radiofrequency generators to heat the BVN and create a lesion that measures 1 centimeter in diameter.
